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The Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi is calling for villages to be more willing to assist the government where schools are involved.
Tuilaepa’s comments were made last Thursday during his weekly press conference with Radio 2AP. His views were made in reference to the on-going situation faced by Sagaga College where land owners are demanding payment for their properties. Problems started in the aftermath of the 2009 tsunami, when coastal schools and students were identified as being at risk. Following government’s policy to relocate all schools inland for safety purposes, the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (M.E.S.C.) ruled the school should be moved.
The family that owned the land decided after being informed by the school committee of the relocation to give them the end of the 2013 school year before closing off the property. Unfortunately following issues with the new piece of that the school was to be relocated to, from Tuana’i to Afega, there was nowhere for students to start their classes for the 2014 school year.
As a result of claims that teachers were drinking and hosting parties at the Tuana’i property, the family closed off the land. And the family asked that the school make a payout for reusing their property.
Tuilaepa stepped in and gave a two-week ultimatum to Parliament (M.P.) for Sagaga Le Usoga, Muagututagata Peter Ah Him for his district to sort out their problems.
If not, the school would be closed down and the students allocated to other schools for their education, he said. Prior to Parliament’s two-week ultimatum, the family who owned the Tuana’i property the original site of the school, allowed the classes to go ahead. But they also gave the school a two-week ultimatum.
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Whether the school has made any payments regarding the family’s proposal has yet to be confirmed. But Tuilaepa claims that the situation is for the school to continue operations on that piece of land and that it does so under the existing conditions. “ That condition is that the land continues to be the contribution of the village and the district for the school,“ said Tuilaepa.
“Remember the relationship at present is that the village has a contribution to give the land up for the school.”
The “government’s contribution is bringing in teachers and funding through organisations.”
These organisations already have contracts with the Government, he said. “
These organisations come to assist the poor but depend on the [school] committees to make requests.”
Donors that assist in funding development of schools do not go out searching for those that need assistance. Instead they remain where they are while school committees come forward to request assistance, he said.
“If no one comes, then they pack up and return overseas,” said Tuilaepa. The P.M. said if the situation turns sour, “roll up the mats and officially close down,” because “there are plenty of schools in Apia for education.
“These days villages should try to assist” the government, he said.
“The children are not those of people from overseas but their own so they should support the government.
“It is not a government flowing with oil and plenty of gold - it is a government that is searching for money to push for schools.”
Tuilaepa confirmed the family owning the property at Tuana’i have given an affirmation to continue their service to the government.
And “service to God to assist for life and eternity”.
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